Central Mass. artists split $180K in Mass Cultural Council grants

Thirty-six Central Massachusetts artists have received a slice of $2.24 million in funding through the Boston-based Mass Cultural Council to pursue their creative disciplines. 

A total of 447 artists throughout Massachusetts individually received $5,000 unrestricted grants from the state agency through its second annual Grants for Creative Individuals initiative. The program aims to equitably advance creative expression throughout the state, including in disciplines such as literature, theater, drag, and design, according to a March 6 press release from Mass Cultural Council.

The region’s grantees account for $180,000 of the agency’s total granted funding. 

The agency reviewed 3,084 eligible applications, with grantees selected through a review process that evaluated their artistic achievements and commitments to their disciplines. The council considered geographic distribution, funding priorities, and scores from reviewers from the state’s creative and cultural sector. At 98%, almost all awardees are receiving their first grant through the initiative. 

The Grants for Creative Individuals initiative was first established in 2024, born from the Mass Cultural Council’s’ Racial Equity Plan, prioritizing racial equity by addressing systemic inequities in Massachusetts, according to the agency’s website.  

A full list of the Central Massachusetts grant recipients is below:

Adam Green of Northbridge 
     – Discipline: multidisciplinary

Alexander Bernhardt of Worcester 
      – Discipline: music

Amanda Gibson of Worcester 
      – Discipline: multidisciplinary

Ami Earley of Shrewsbury 
      – Discipline: multidisciplinary

Amy Bellamy of Framingham 
      – Discipline: music

Andrew Bain of Barre 
      – Discipline: visual arts

Andrew DiMola of Pepperell 
      – Discipline: music

Cherry Brice of Wayland 
      – Discipline: media arts

Devin Cole of Fitchburg 
      – Discipline: visual arts

Donna Gonzalez of Littleton 
      – Discipline: folk/traditional arts

Eden Olayiwole of Marlborough 
      – Discipline: multidisciplinary

Elizabeth Santa Lucia of Ayer 
      – Discipline: multidisciplinary

Heath Widdiss of Southborough 
      – Discipline: crafts

Heather Cassano of Uxbridge 
      – Discipline: media arts

Jason Widdiss of Shrewsbury 
      – Discipline: folk/traditional arts

Jean-Sebastien Duvilaire of Worcester 
      – Discipline: dance

Joel Libed of Hudson 
      – Discipline: theatre

Jonas Warner of Auburn 
      – Discipline: folk/traditional arts

Karin Trachtenberg of Southborough 
      – Discipline: theatre

Karina Santana of Worcester 
      – Discipline: visual arts

Lisa Borders of Hudson 
      – Discipline: literature

Manolo Mairena of Worcester 
      – Discipline: music

Margaret Carrier of Westborough
      – Discipline: visual arts

Matthew Brooks of Hubbardston
      – Discipline: visual arts

Melissa Cronin of Upton
      – Discipline: media Arts

Natalia Gaudio of Westborough
      – Discipline: dance

Nazario Garate of Millis
      – Discipline: folk/traditional arts

Nilanjana Nambiar of Shrewsbury
      – Discipline: dance

Rajesh Khare of Westborough
      – Discipline: folk/traditional arts

Rita Mookerjee of Worcester
      – Discipline: literature

Scott Boilard of Worcester
      – Discipline: visual arts

Serafina Baronowski of Ashburnham
      – Discipline: crafts

Teree Thomas of Worcester
      – Discipline: multidisciplinary

Trevor Toney of Templeton
      – Discipline: visual Arts

Uma Sankar of Shrewsbury
      – Discipline: music

Xiang Li of Grafton
      – Discipline: folk/traditional arts

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.